Cotton picker



March 22, 1960 v. TALKINGTON, SR 2, 29,183

COTTON PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 INVENTOR Vseuou L.TAL.\me'rou,S-.

ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill I T L Y w N .PxaA

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V. L. TALKINGTON, SR

COTTON PICKER March 22, 1960 Flled Feb 14, 1958 March 22, 1960 V. L. TALKINGTON, SR

COTTON PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 FIG-.8

- INVENTOR VERNON L. TALKING-TON S ATTORNEYS v. 1.. TALKINGTON, SR 2,929,188

' March 22, 1960 COTTON PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 FIG. \2

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INVENTOR VERNON LTAuuueToufin ATTORNEYS BY WWWWM v March 22, 1960 v. TALKINGTON, sR

COTTON PICKER Filed Feb. 14, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR VERNON L. TALKNGTQNS:

We mam MM u ATTORNEYS COTTON PICKER Vernon L. Talkington, Sr., Beeville, Tex.

Application February 14, 1958, Serial No. 715,245

3 Claims. or. 55-30 The present invention relates to a cotton picker.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cotton picker for attachment to a pushing vehicle which lends itself to the efficient picking of cotton and the separation of leaves, twigs, and other debris from the cotton as it is picked from the cotton plant. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cotton picker which is simple in construction, one sturdily constructed and eflicient in operation, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following de 'scription when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the cotton picker of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the assembl shown in Figure l;

Figine 3 is an end elevational view;

Figure 4 is an exploded elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, showing the inner drum and outer sleeve removed from each other;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan exploded view showing the connection for partially rotating the inner drum;

Figure 6 is a view, with parts broken away and shown in section of an assembled inner drum and outer sleeve;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a pushing vehicle with a portion of the picker of the present invention shown attached thereto and showing the vacuum means mounted on the vehicle;

Figure 9 is a sectional view takenon the line 9--9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a sectional view takenon the line 10-10 of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line-11-11 of Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a modified form of the cotton picker according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is an elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 12; v

Figure 14 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a view partially in section showing a valve control in one of'the vacuum conduits of the assembly shown in Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a plan view of one of the housings used in the assembly shown in Figure 12; V

Figure 17 is an elevational view as seen on line 1717 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an elevational view as seen on line 18-18 of Figure 16; and

Figure 19 is a 'view similar to Figure 16 showing in dotted lines the movement of the housing.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the' several views, the cotton picker according to the present inven- Patented Mar. 22, 1966 upstanding supporting structure designated generally by the reference numeral 20 and having a pair of sides '22 and 24, a forward end 26 and a rearward end 28. A stub axle 30 is arranged transversely of and along each of the sides 22 and 24 of the structure 20 adjacent the lower end of the structure 20 inwardly of and contiguous to the rearward end 28. The stub axle 30 is supported in the structure 20 by means of suitable hanger members 32-. 1 I

The axles 30 are mounted in the respective hanger members 32 for rotation in a clockwise direction when viewed in Figure'Z. A-ground-engagin'g wheel 34 is carried on each of the axles 30 and supports the. rearward end of the structure 20. The structure 20 has on its rearward end 28, Figure 8, means for attachment of the structure to a pushing vehicle. Specifically, this means embodies a pair of laterally spaced upright bars 29positioned rearwardly of and spaced from the rearward end 28 of the structure 29 and each secured in spacedrelation to the rearward end 28 of the structure 2%. Each of the upright bars 29 carries a pair of attaching members '36 and 38 arranged in vertical spaced relation, the'att'aching members being secured to the forward end of a pushing vehicle 62, as clearly shown in Figure 8. When the attaching members 36 and 38 are attached to the pushing vehicle 62 the structure 20 is supported by the pushing vehicle for movement over a groundsurface. i

A plurality of upstanding housings 42 are positioned Within the structure 2% and extend in linear aligned spaced relation along each of the sides of the structure 20," the housings 42 extending along one of the structure sides being in spaced relation and staggered relation'with-respect to the housings 42 which extend dong the other of the structure sides with portions of the housing extending along one of the structure sides facing portions of the housing extending along the other of the structure sides. Each of the housings 42 embodies a drum 44' provided with a vertically extending slot 46 in the portion of 'thetdrum 44 corresponding to the facing portion of the housing. The housings 42 also include asleeve 43 circumposed about an rotatable about the drum 44 as an axis, the sleeve 48 having a plurality of vertically ex tending closed slots arranged in spaced relation therearound each registrable in turn with the slot 46 in the drum 44, the slots in the sleeve 48 being shown in Figures 2, 4, and 10 and designated by the reference numeral 50.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the sleeve 48 is-ni'ounted in a ring bearing member 52 for free rotation about the drum 44, there being provided a bearing member 54 interposed between the drum 44 and the sleeve '48 upward ly of the lower end of the latter.

An overhead conduit 56 having'one end open andlthe other end closed is positioned'so as to extend over the upper end of the support structure 20 with'the closed end contiguous to the forward end 26 and the open end adjacent the rearward end 28. The open end of the conduit 56 is connected by a flexible conduit to a source of suction, this being a draft fan 58 mounted upon a platform 60 carried by a pushing vehicle such as a tractor62 in Figure 8. I

A'collector housing 64 is carried on the platform 69 and an internal combustion engine 66 is mounted on the collector 64 and is operatively connected by means of a 'belt 68 to the draft fan 58. An exhaust conduit 7% conmeets the collector 64 with the fan 58. Other flexible conduits 72 connect each of the upper ends of the drums '44 with the conduits 56.

Means is provided connectingthe linear aligned housings -42 or the drums 44 of' the housings 42 to one ofithestub axles 30 for oscillatory 'movementuof the housings or drums responsive to the rotational movement in-zclocigi hicle 109.

wise direction of the said one axle 30. Specifically, this means consists in a pulley 92 carried by the said one stub shaft 30, Figure 3, the pulley being connected by a belt 94 to another pulley 96 carried on a transversely arranged crankshaft 98 which is journaled in the upper end portion of the structure 20 adjacent the rearward end 28. The crankshaft 98 carries three cranks on each side of the conduit 56, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The top of each of the drums 44 is provided with a socket 100 in which fits a pin 102 carried on the free end of each of a plurality of crank arms designated generally by the reference numeral 104. One crank arm extends to each of the cranks on the crankshaft 98, as shown in Figure 1. Upon rotation in the clockwise direction of the stub axle 30 which carries the pulley 92 each of the drums 44 or housings 42 is reciprocated between the lines a. as marked by arrows in Figure 5.

Means is also provided connecting the sleeves 48 of each of the linear aligned housings 42 to the adjacent stub axle 30 for rotational movement responsive to the rotational movement in clockwise direction of the adjacent axle. Specifically, this means embodies a pulley 74, Figure 3, mounted upon each of the stud axles 3i) and each connected by a belt 76 to a driven pulley 7 8 carried on one end of a longitudinally extending driven shaft 80 positioned on each side of the structure 20 and supported in bearings 81. Each driven shaft 80 carries three pulleys 82, one for each of the adjacent sleeves 48. The lower end portion of each sleeve 48 is provided with a grooved ring 86 constituting a pulley. A belt 84 drivingly connects each pulley 82 to the ring 86 on the adjacent sleeve 48 for effecting the rotational movement of the sleeves 48 responsive to the rotational movement in the clockwise direction of the adjacent stub axle 30. i A split collar 88, having a concave inner face, Figure 4, is circumposed about each sleeve 48 and encloses the portion of the belt 84 seated in the groove of the adjacent ring 86. Each collar 88 is mounted on a base member 90 supported on the structure 20 below each of the sleeves 48.

Guide means is provided projecting from the forward end of the supporting structure 20 for directing the cotton plants into the passageway provided between the housings 42. Specifically, this guide means comprises a pair of angularly shaped and diagonally spaced plates 106 and 108 carried by the forward end of the structure 20 and so arranged as to guide the cotton plants into the passageway provided between the respective housings 42.

Referring to Figures 12 to 19, inclusive, the reference butterfly valve to the throw 128. The second throw 1'34 numeral 110 designates generally a modified cotton picker supporting structure according to the present invention. In this form of the invention a plurality of housings 112 are arranged in linear aligned relation and extending along each side of the structure 110. An overhead conduit 114 is connected to each of the housings 112 intermediate the ends of the latter. One end of the conduit 114 is closed and the other end is adapted for connection to the fan 58 or other source of suction.

The structure 110 of Figures 12 to 19 inclusive has on its rearward end 111, Figures 12, 13, and 14, means for attachment of the structure to a pushing vehicle 109. This means includes a pair of laterally spaced upright bars 113 positioned rearwardly of and spaced from the rearward end 111 of the structure 110. Each of the upright bars 113 carries a pair of attaching members 115 and 117 arranged in vertical spaced relation, the attaching members being secured to the forward end of the pushing ve- In this form the structure 110 is supported by the pushing vehicle 109 for movement over a ground surface when the attaching members 1 15 and 117 are secured to the pushing vehicle 109.

Means is provided for connecting the housings 112, or the drums which constitute such housings 112, to the adjacent stub axles 118' for effecting projectile and contactile-movement of the housings 112 relative to the passageway which is formed between their facing portions.

Specifically, this means consists in a drive pulley 120 mounted on the inner end of each of the axles 118 and connected by a belt 122 to a driven pulley 124 mounted upon one end of a longitudinally extending crankshaft 126. The crankshaft 126 is journaled in the forward end and the rearward end of the supporting structure 110 and carries a pair of crank throws for each of the housings 112. As will readily be seen in Figure 12, there are two such crankshafts 126, one for each of the rows of housings 112. The first crank throw of each pair of crank shafts is designated by the numeral 128 and is shown, in Figures 12 and lito be connected to a butterfly valve 130 in the auxiliary conduit 116. A crank arm 132 connects such of each pair of crank shafts 126 (Figure 12) carries a coupling element 136 through which projects an intermediate portion of a normally horizontally disposed support bar 138, the intermediate portion of the bar 138 being operatively connected to the coupling element 136. One end of the support bar 138 is secured to the outer face of the adjacent housing 112, Figure 18, and the other end of the support bar 138 is slidable in an eye formation 140 provided on a horizontally disposed reciprocatory shaft 142. A crank element 144 on one end of the shaft 142 provides reciprocatory movement as shown in full lines and dotted lines in Figure 12 in response to rotation of a driven pulley 146 which is connected by a belt 148 to a drive pulley 150 mounted exteriorly of the adjacent wheel 152 and on the end portion of the stub axle 118.

A pair of angular and obliquely arranged plates 154 and 156 are connected to the forward end of the supporting structure 110 and serves as guide means for guiding the cotton plants into the passageway provided between the facing portions of the housings 112. As shown in Figure 17, the facing portion of the housing 112 is provided with a slot 156, closed at its ends, and connected by the auxiliary conduit 116 to the source of suction. In Figure 14 the dotted line showing indicates the tilting reciprocatory and contractile and extensile movements of the housing 112 responsive to rotation of the wheel 152 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13.

In use, the cotton picker of the present invention, in either of the two embodiments heretofore described, is attached to a pushing vehicle such as a tractor 62 with the forward end of the structure of the picker supported by an attachment member connected to the upper end of the structure and to the tractor. This enables the structure to be driven over a row of cotton plants with the plants passing between the guide means and lifted into the passageway provided between the respective housings which extend along each sideof the structure. When the cotton picker shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, is employed, the rotation of the sleeve 48 on each of the housings 42 "brings the slots 50 in turn into registry with the slot 46 and the drum 44. The opening and closing of the slot 46 and the drum 44 by the rotation of the sleeve 48 applies a sudden suction to the cotton bolls on the plants passing between the housings 42, effectively extracting the cotton from the bolls and carrying the cotton through the conduits 72, 70, to the collector 64. Most of the dirt, leaves, and trash are permitted to fall to the lower end of the drum 44 for later removal while the cotton is carried upwardly through the conduit 56 by means ofthe suction fan 58 When the cotton picker shown in Figures 12 to 19 is employed, the reciprocatory movements of the housings 112, and the extensile and retractile movements of the housings 112, together with the opening and closing of the butterfly valve in each of the auxiliary conduits 116 serves to remove the cotton from the cotton plants and to carry the same upwardly through the conduits 116 and 114 to the draft source and to the appropriate collector. The opening and closing of the butterfly valve 130 in each of the conduits 116 applies a sudden suction action to the cotton bolls on the plants passing between the housings and effects the extraction of the cotton from the bolls in an efiicient manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cotton picker, an upstanding supporting structure having a pair of sides and a forward end and a rearward end, a stub axle arranged transversely of and along each side of said structure adjacent the lower end thereof inwardly of and contiguous to the rearward end of said structure and supported in said structure for rotation in a clockwise direction, a ground-engaging wheel carried by each of said stub axles, a plurality of upstanding housings positioned within said structure and extending in linear aligned spaced relation along each of the sides of said structure, the housings extending along one of said structure sides being spaced from and in staggeredspaced relation with respect to the housings extending along the other of said structure sides with portions of the housings extending along one of the structure sides facing portions of the housings extending along the other of the structure sides, the facing portions of each of the respective housings being provided with a vertically extending opening, an overhead conduit having one end open and the other end closed positioned so as to extend over the upper end of said supporting structure with the closed end contiguous to the forward end of said structure and the open end adjacent the rearward end of said structure, the open end of said conduit being adapted for connection to a source of suction, a flexible pipe connecting each of said housings to said conduit, means on the rearward end of said structure for attachment to a pushing vehicle, and means connecting the linear aligned housings extending along each side of said structure to one of said stub axles for oscillatory movement responsive to the rotational movement in clockwise direction of said axle.

2. In a cotton picker, an upstanding supporting structure having a pair of sides and a forward end and a rearward end, a stub axle arranged transversely of and along each side of said structure adjacent the lower end thereof inwardly of and contiguous to the rearward end of said structure and supported in said structure for rotation in a clockwise direction, a ground-engaging wheel carried by each of said stub axles, a plurality of upstanding housings positioned within said structure and extending in linear aligned spaced relation along each of the sides of said structure, the housings extending along one of said structure sides being spaced from and in staggered spaced relation with respect to the housings extending along the other of said structure sides with portions of the housings extending along one of the structure sides facing portions of the housings extending along the other of the structure sides, the facingp'ortions of each of the respective housings being provided with a vertically extending opening, the space between the linear aligned housings forming a passageway for passage therethrough of upstanding cotton plants from which the cotton lint is to be extracted from the boll, guide means projecting from the forward end of saidstructure for directing the cotton plants into said passageway, an overhead conduit so as to extend over the upper end of said supporting structure with the closed end contiguous to the forward end of said structure and the open end adjacent the rearward end of said structure, the open end of said conduit being adapted for connection to a source of suction, a flexible pipe connecting each of said housings to said conduit, means on the rearward end of said structure for attachment to a pushing vehicle, and means connecting the linear aligned housings extending along each side of said structure to one of said stub axles for oscillatory movement responsive to the rotational movement in clockwise direction of said axle.

3. In a cotton picker, an upstanding supporting structure having a pair of sides and a forward end and a rearward end, a stub axle arranged transversely of and along each side of said structure adjacent the lower end thereof inwardly of and contiguous to the rearward end of said structure and supported in said structure for rotation in a clockwise direction, a ground-engaging wheel carried by each of said stub axles, a plurality of upstanding housings positioned within said structure and extending in linear aligned spaced relation along each of the sides of said structure, the housings extending along one of said structure sides being spaced from and in staggered spaced relation with respect to the housings extending along the other of said structure sides, the portions of the housings extending along one of the structure sides a facing portions of the housings extending along the other of the structure sides, each of said housings embodying a drum provided with a vertically extending slot in the portion corresponding to the facing portion of the housing, and a sleeve circumposed about and rotatable about said drum as an axis, said sleeve having a plurality of vertically extending slots arranged in spaced relation therearound, an overhead conduit having one end open and the other end closed positioned so as to extend over the upper end of said supporting structure with theclosed end contiguous to the forward end of said structure and the open end adjacent the rearward end of said structure, the open end of said conduit being adapted for connection to a source of suction, a flexible pipe connecting; each of said housings to said conduit, means on the rearward end of said structure for attachment to a pushing vehicle, means connecting the drums of the linear aligned housings to one of said stub axles for oscillatory movement of said drums responsive to the rotational movement in clockwise direction of said axle, and means connecting the sleeves of eachv of said linear aligned housings to the adjacent stub axle for rotational movement responsive to the rotational movement in clockwise direction of said adjacent axle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Annis June 3, 1958 

